Locking means for the bolt system of vault or safe doors or the like



Jan. 8v 1924. E. s. PALMER .UCKING MEANS FOR THEYBOLT SYSTEM OF VAUL' OR SAFE DOORS OR THE LIKE 1920 '4 sheets-sheet l /Original Filed March 16 ATTORNEY Jn. s 1924. 1,480,104

E. S. PALMER LOCKING MEANS FOR THE BOLT SYSTEM OF VAULT OR SAFE DOORS OR THE LIKE Original Filed March 16 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2v Fay. 5,

INVENTOR faz/:uff a2/ff: aad/m el ArroRNEY.

' E. s. PALMER LOCKING MEANS FOR THE BOLT SYSTEM OF' VAULT OR SAFE DOORS OR THE LIKE Original Filed March 16 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fmme mJy/J 40o/(22er ATTORNEY Jan. 8 1924. i

. E.s. PALMER LOCKING MEANS FOR rHE BOLT SYSTEM OF VAULT OR SFE DOORS OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 16. 1920 INVENToR fname! m :De/mer ATTORNEY in resisting unlawful 'ent-rance.

Patented Jan. 8, 19.24.

UNITE@ STATES.

1,489,114; PATENT ermee. l

EMMET SMITH PALMER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LOCKING MEANS EGR THE BOLT SYSTEM 0F VALT 0R SAFE DOOR-S GR: 'ITI-IE LIKE.

Application led March 16, 19.20, Serial No. 366,197. Renewed April 2K,

'To ZZ "iriffim it may concern.:

Be it known that I, EMMET SMITH 'LEAL- irrir., a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county cgt," King and State ci lil'ashington., have invent-cda certain new and usetul Improvement in,v Locking Means tor the Bolt System ot Vault or Sate Doors or the like, lot which the: following is a specilication. y

My invention relates to the, art fof locl-ingA means for the bolt system of vault or safe doors, or the like. More particularly my iiivent-ion relates to. the provi-ding of aV new and positivey defensive system ter vault doors rendering the same in and ot themselves sell' suilicient in resisting unauthorized manipulation, and providing for. the reopening thereof.

As vault doors Land vault door bolt systems have been heretofore designed, the usual -L'inethod or practice in gaining unlawful entrance to the vault is to4 destroy violently or violently tamper with the combination lock. This destruction oi the lock is achieved by blowing out or driving thru. the operating mechanism and when this is done the' biolt system Yfree to be moved into unlocked position. lillectricallycharged conductors (,listributed over the inner walls of a vault door to prevent unauthorized entrance have been employed to give an alarm, i. e. a cry Vtor help. Objection. to such construction is that it does not mal/:e the vault-door selfsu'i'iicient in and of itself to resist such unauthorized entrance and hence, as often hap,- pens much damage is done bet-ore help arrives.

The objects ot my invention are to, provide a magnetically operated locking means which will automatically lock tor a predetermined time the bolt system upon the de,- struction or violent tampering with 4the combination lock, and which wiilil automatically unlock the said bolt system art the end of that tin'ie. .l purpose rendering a vault -or sate door or the like sel't sut'ticien-t in and vof iter; primary obiect ot my invention is to vprovide such a holt system locking means that is simple and may be readily applied to vault or sate doors or the like ot various makes and designs and -to these. after installation vas well as at the time ot' manufacture :ot said multa. safes or the like. lvloreover, it is my obi ci t to provide such a bolt system locking means which is capable. of using an electromagnet of power, that provision ismade for the automatic unlocking. of thesame with certainity at a time desired, and t0 provide a bolty blecking means or latch olf such form that its movement is free for certain and full engagement with-r the bolt. Besides these a further primary object ot my invention is to provide a boltsystem lockingmeans which will automatically lock thesaid system when-` ever thebolts are moved intov locked position and which locking means is, unlocked by means of an electro-magnet operatively connected with a combination lock. Also I ur- POS@ providing Such a bolt System levies meer'sthet any' attempt @Obere Q1? fulfill. vtlllu the plate of the ya'ultdoor for any purpose will result in locking the" boltsystem just as does the removaly or tampering with the coinbination lock.

The` above mentioned general yobjectsl or" my invention, together withotlrers inherent inl the. same are yattaird by themechlani'sm illustrated in the following drawings, the sameI being merely preferred ezemplary forms of embodiment of my inyention, thru- Qt which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 a view olf ay preferred torni' of rny invention as' respects the emergency lock in. its application t0 e; Common -Clesien- 0f vaultdeorffa front View of the inner 4side ot which is shown;

Figure' 2 is a transverse sectional View of said vault door, further showing the applii cation of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed front view oft the eccentric latch member pivotally mounted, Mld the bolt and `electro-magriiet asseciated therewith;

Figure. `4l is a vertical sectional v-iewzon .broken line 4, 4 ot' Eig. l showing onemeans of connecting .the switch tol the combination lock; n n

Fig. 5 represents a modii'ied form of a latch, namely ra liever latchl attached directly to the bolty frame;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a .modiied form of `boltblo,cking means and its location in a vault vestibule; n

Fig. '7 is a iplan view yof said modiieel form of bolt-blocking means.;

Fig.r 8` isan enlarged front view of thesame Fig. e9. is a detail view of a cable-trigger .means on the combination lock.; A

Fig. 'l0I is ,as detail View -of the spring switch and attached cables;

Fig. 11 is a front view of a modified form of my invention electrically connected-to the combination lock designed as a night lock;

Fig. `12 is a side view ofthe combination lock of such modified form showing its electrical connections;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged ydetail view of the combination loclr of such modified form showing its electrical contact in open position:

Fig. 14 is a front view of still another modified form of my invention showing bolt locking means, i. e., the emergency lock below and the night loclr above applied to .the same bolt;

Fig. 15 is a view in transverse section; showing the protective plate insulated from the door plate; and

Fig. 16 is a view of a switch operatively connected to one of the bolts whereby a circuit is automatically open and closed.

The general arrangement and disposition of the parts of the preferred form of my invention, as respects the emergency lock are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. rlhe combination lock 17 of a conventional vault door 18 controls through parts 19 and 20 (Fig. 1) the bolts 21 of the bolt system, said bolt system being operatively controlled by the bolt-throw handle 22. A cable 23 has one end 24 looped, i. e. providedwith an eye, (Fig. 4) and secured over a pin 25 made fast to the combination lock-block or housing 26. Said cable 23 preferably passes squarely, i. e. centrallyl over the lock back plate 27 forming thereby a trigger7 means to set off the locking means. The other end 28 of the cable 23 is secured to the blade 29 of a knife switch 30. pposed to said cable 23 is the spring 31, which insures a positive closing of the switch 30 when the cable 23 is released from the pin 25. Since said spring 31 is attached to the bolt frame member 38, it serves to ground the circuit. Electric wire 32 connects post 33 of switch 30 with battery 35 which is connected by wire 34 to electro-magnet 36 and this in turn is grounded by wire 37 to the bolt frame 38 which carries the bolt system. Near the core 39 of the electro-magnet 36, the emergency eccentric latch member, i. e. bolt blockingmember, 40 (Fig. 3) is pivotally mounted on pin 41 with the curved side 42 of one of its arms normally (i. e. unlocked position) nearest the said core member 39 and its straight side 43 nearest the bolt 21. The differencein the length of the sides of this arm thus causes said arm to have an eccentric movement with respect to the core 39. A notch 44 in the bolt 21 receives the end 45 Aof the latch 40 when the electro-magnet is energized and the latch rotated on its pivot 'pin 41. A ring block 46 fits about the bolt 21 kand preferably presents an inclined face 47 as a bearing to the latch end 45 when moved into locking position.

To prevent drilling or burning ak hole through the door plate 48, a modified form of a trigger7 means, i. e. a protective plate 49, is caused to extend over the inner surface of the door plate 48 as an inner lining and is insulated and separated therefrom with insulation 50. Electric wire 51 connects the protective plate 49 to the post 33. A drill bit or metal from burning of the door plate 48 would complete the circuit and cause the energizing of the electro-magnet' 36 and therefore the locking 0f the bolt 21 just 'as would releasing the cable 23 from the pin 25 by violent tampering with the combination lock housing 26.

lt will be understood that upon locking one of the bolts 21, all of the bolts of the system are locked. When the vault door 18 is closed, the bolt 21 before the bolt-throw handle 22 is operated, swings back'of the angle iron 52 on the side having the hinge 53 to the point shown in dotted line 54. By thus extending so far back, the bolt 21 clears the angle iron 55 on the front side. Then when 'the bolt-throw handle 22 is turned, the bolt 21. is moved forward as shown in solid lines as illustrated, so that the bolt 21 extends behind both angle irons 52 and 55. The inner vestibule doors 56 and 57 are shown in closed position. An electric signal bell 58 may be connected with the switch 59 by electric wire 60 and to the said bells separate battery 61 by wire 63. l/Vire 62 completes the circuit between the switch 59 and the battery 61. rlhis bell is set ringing when the latch 40 is caused to move into locking position, said latch member 40 being provided with a hard-rubber bumper 64 which operates to press an electric switch spring 65 into contact with a plate 66, so that notice may be given to the would be unauthorized entrants that emergency locking means within has been actuated and that their further efforts are rendered useless.

rl`he modified form of bolt blocking means, i. e. latch 67 shown in Fig. 5 is more simple in construction and constitutes a lever form of latch pivotally mounted on the side of the boltframe member 38. This form. of latch is my preferred form for the ordinary lire proof vault door. This latch 67 enters notch 68 in the bolt and bears directly against the bolt-frame member 38 when in locked position and an attempt is made to force back the bolt 21. A switch 69 is closed when the latch 67 moves into closed position and thereby the signal bell 58 is caused to ring.

In the modied form, shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, a cable 70 enclosed in a flexible casing 71 connects the combination lock housing 26 with the electric switch 30, said cable being looped at one end to pass over leeeloe a pin` 72 located on top 'of the combination lock housing 26. The other .end` 28 Of the cable 70 is secured to. the blade 5.29ct the switch 30. The spring 31 securedI tjo. said blade 29 keeps the. cable under ytension and insures a positive closing ot theswitch 30 when the cable is released' from the `pin 72. The switch 30 is electrically connected to the electro-magnet 36,` `operatively mounted as in the lirstinstance withrespect to the eccentric member 73 which is provided with a block 74 adapted Ato be moved up behind the bolt 21 so that said bolt cannot be moved back to enable the front portion to clear the angle iron 55,-as said block nearly fills the space beh-ind said bolt 21.

The bolt-locking means heretofore de-` scribed arey designed 4solely to block the .bolt system in an emergency, i.e. upon destrucf tion or violent tampering with the combination lock housing 26 or back plate `27. In Figs. l1 and 14 are shown bolt locking means designed to lock the bolt system `if-iightly by means supplementary to the. ccn'ibination lock, i. e. voluntarily or on occasions other than emergencies. Besides the emergency eccentric member or latch 40. there is provided a night lock eccentric member 75 and a notch 76 in the bolt 21 illustrated separately in F ig. 11 so as not to be confused with the emergency eccentric 40 which, however, is shown in association Fig. 14. An electrom'agnet 77 exertsits torce upon `said night lock eccentric member 7 5 which is electrically connected to the regular combina.- tion lock mechanism 78 using the signal bells circuit, i. e. using a circuit separate from the emergency latch 40.A

The disks 79, 80, 81, and v82 ot' Ythe combination lock 17 are flattened on one. side as at 83, so that a transverse bar 84 in a recess 85 on the upper side ot the lock housing 26 may descend and cause the `)late S6 electrically connected with the eectro-magnet 77 and. fixed to said bar 84 to descend. Insulation 87 between the sa-id bar 84 and the said plate 86 separates the two electrically. When the plate 86 descends and makes contact with the housing 26,` thecircuit is completed by thus grounding it. Astud-88 tixedly secured on the emergency eccentric or latch 40 extends upwardly soas to engage the night lock eccentric member 7 5 and litt it out ot engagement with the notch 76, causing said eccentric member 75 to rotate suiiiciently to throw the center of mass to the right of the vertical line thru the pivot point 89 of the said eccentric 75. In order that the electric circuitci the night lock eccentric 75 or any other circuit herein 'may be automaticall)v opened. andfcloscdga knife switch blade 90 is pivotally mounted at 91 to the bolt trame 38 and pivotally connected at 92 to th'e'bolt 21, so that when the bolt 21 is moved back and forth it will make and unm-ake contact with the point `93,

The mode of operation of my device is as follows: Upon closing the vault door, the bolts l21 are caused to extend behind both of the. angle irons 52 and 5,5 by turning the be destroyed.` Assuming that unauthorized if-i entrance to the vault is attempted by destroying the combination lock` 17, as is the usual method so as to render the bolt-throw handle free to be turned, it is manifest thatv any tampering with the combination lock 17 either by blowing or driving out the operative parts 78 of the same, will displace the back plate 27 which will release the cable 23 from the pin 25 which parts thus function as a trigger means. Thereupon, spring 31 snaps the switch blade. 29.into closed position, and hence, by grounding closes the electric circuit ot' the electro-magnet 36 which causes the emergency latch 4() to rotate untilthefend at `the upper side, i. e. 43 comes into contact with the core 39 i. e. the end l45 of the latch is moved into engagement with notch `44 where it is held so. longas the electro-magnet 36 is energized and thereby prevents the backward movement ot the bolt v21, so that the boltsystem cannot be moved into unlocked position. The end 45 oit the latch or bolt blocking memberI 4() is caused to bear against the inclined l'ace 47 of the block 46, which thus insures. a -firm blocking of the bolt 21 against transverse movement.v lVhen the battery 35 is, exhausted, the latch 40 falls. by forcev of gravity, fromy engagement with notch 44 and then the` bolt-throw-lever 22 can be operated to withdraw the bolts 21. This period when the battery 35 will be exhausted can be predetermined so as topermit ot opening t-he vault doors at such time as it will be safe, i. e.- after the attempted unauthorized entrance has been foiled, and the books, money, and other valuables may then be available for the days business, Since electromagnets are usually wound to use as little current as possible, itwould require too long' a time to exhaust the ordinary standard battery. Experiment has taught that it is preferable as batteries are made of standard strength, to use specially wound electro-magnets designed to use a. large curf rent. l preferably employ the exhaustive method fot unlocking the emergency 'bolt lock as. it. offers no. exterior avenue of entrance as would a combination lock or secretly hid button. By providing for the removal of the force which maintains the latch in locking position, preferably and as herein shown by exhausting the battery, provision is made for the positivev and certain withdrawal of the latchpreferably and as herein shown, the force of gravity is caused to co-operate with said exhausting of the battery. y

The advantage of the eccentric character of the latch 40 will now be manifest. The latch must be rotated suiiciently to lock the bolt and to do this the latch must not at iirst come into contact with the core 39, because otherwise it would stop rotating before making engagement with the notch 44. By providing the eccentric form, the contact with the core 39 is not made until full engagement with the said notch 44 is made and then when contact is made, it requires but small magnetic force to hold vthe eccentric member vin engagement with the notch 44 so that a positive and certain locking of the bolt is assured. The greatest magnetic force is demanded at the beginning when the electro-magnet must act thru space to actuate the latch and this is when the battery has its maximum strength. As the battery approaches exhaustion, there is no danger of prematurely unlocking as little magnetic force is then required since the latch is then in contact with the core 39 and a small magnetic force is suiiicient to hold the latch in locking position. Therefore, unlocking occurs only when the battery is almost wholly exhausted. Shortening the distance between the core (39) and the latch (40) would have the same eect in principle even though actual contact is not made.

Again if unauthorized entrance thru the vault door is attempted by burning a hole thru the door plate 48 with an oxyacetylene burner, or by drilling, it is clear that contact will be made withv the protective plate 49 which will cause the energizing of the electro-magnet 86 and the locking of the bolt 2l just as does the releasing of the cable 23 from its pin 25 i. e. the other trigger7 means. Establishing electric connection between protective plate 49 and door plate 48 is but another means of grounding the circuit in place of the spring 8l functioning as a conductor for such purpose. In this manner the usual method of gaining unauthorized entrance to a vault by destroying the combination lock is positively precluded. rlhe vault door is thus made in and of itself burglar proof as contrasted with the devices which rely upon setting o' an alarm and the calling'in of defenders.

The purpose of the signal bell 58 has been hereinabove-set forth. However, just as said bells circuit was closed so could the circuit of one of the many common and well known types of alarm bells (not shown) or systems be closed, so that an alarm could be turned in.

`The ,operation of the modified form shown in Figs. 6,' 7, 8 and 9 will now be readily understood. rlhe cable corresponds to the short cable 23, functioning as a trigger means as does'said short cable. The blocking means or eccentric member 7 8 does not enter a notch in the bolt 21 but is provided with a block 74 which iills the space behind the said bolt 2l when the eccentric member 73 is actuated. It will be noted that any attempt to burn thru thedoor plate 48 will also burn the casing 7l, severing the cable 70 and thereby locking the bolt 2l just as does the releasing of the said cable 7 0 from the pin 72.

In the modified form where the bolt system is locked nightly, the eccentric 7 5 rests upon the bolt and falls by gravity into locking position when the bolt 2l is moved transversely into locking position. rllhe electromagnet 77 controlling the eccentric 75 ,is subject to electric control by the combination lock 78 having specially provided electrical connections hereinabove named and set forth, or subject to control by a separate combination lock whose sole function is to operate said eccentric by lifting it into unlocked position. l preferably prof vide an emergency eccentric 40 just below said night lock latch 75.A `When the emergency latch 40 is actuated it pushes by means of stud 88 the night latch 75 out of engagement with the bolt 2l and itself engages said bolt. The stud 88 strikes the latch Z5 near its pivot point 89 so as to allow a small vertical movement on the part of said stud 88 to eect a relatively large displacement of the said latch 75 and cause its center of mass to rest finally to the side of the vertical line thru the pivot point 89 oppositely disposed to the notch 7 6. Thus, when tho emergency latch 40 falls out of locking engagement withthe notch 44 upon exhaustion of the battery the bolt 21 is free to be moved into unlocking position since the night lock latch 75 is also disengaged.

ln general, thus it will be seen:

First, I provide a bolt blocking means, in one of the forms of a llatch designated as 40, 67, 73 or 75, which prevent the withdrawal of the bolts of the bolt system; second, means to actuate this bolt blocking` means, such as the electro-magnet; third, trigger means which sets of the electromagnet, such means being the cable 23, 70 or the protective plate 49; fourth, provision for automatically unlocking the mechanism consisting in exhausting the battery which supplies the electromagnet with power. Furthermore, in conjunction with said exhausting of the battery l preferably -utilize gravity as an unlocking means on account of the simplicity of the construction incident theretoandbecause of its certaintyy of operation-the unlocking must be eliected with absolute certainty; and fifth,4 while that next preceding relates particularly to a bolt blocking or locking means which.. is not controllable exteriorly so far aS the unlocking part isconcerned, i. e. pertains to anemergency lock, I also provide such a locking means which coacts andl operates in conjunction with said emergencylock but isv controllable, so far as the unlockingvis concerned (if the emergency lock lhas not assumed the duty of locking the bolt) from the outside. 1

Obviously, changesI may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement ofthe parts of my invention, without departingfrom the principle .thereoi", the` above settin forth only a preferred form of embo iment.

I claim:

l. A locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system embodying a bolt blocking means, an electromagnet operatively disposed with respect to said bolt blocking means, a switch, a combination lock, and a connecting means, one end of which is releasably secured to the combination lock and the other end of which is secured to said switch which is thereby maintained normally in open position.

2. A locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system, embodying a bolt blocking member, means connecting the combination lock of said door and the said lock blocking member, an electrical conducting plate connected to and insulated upon said vault door, and electric means connecting said plate with said bolt blocking member whereby injury to or tampering with said combination lock of said vault door or said plate actuates said bolt blocking member into locking position.

3. A locking means for a vault door bolt system embodying a latch disposed to engage one of the bolts of said system, an electro-magnet operatively disposed with respect to said latch, a Spring opera-ted switch, a combination lock a cable, one end of which is releasably secured to the combination lock and the other end Of which is secured to said switch which is thereby maintained normally in open position.

4. A locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system, embodying a bolt system. a latch disposed to engage a member of said system, a'n electromagnet operatively disposed on an open circuit with respect to said latch, a combination lock and trigger means connecting said electromagnet to said combination lock.

5. A locking mechanism embodying a bolt, a latch disposed to engage said bolt and .normally heldy in disengaged` position, an telectromagnetl operatively disposed with respect,v to saiddjlatch, la combination lock, and means connecting said electromagnet and said combination ylock whereby said electromagnet may be caused `to move said latch into locking zposition and maintain the same in s aid` position for a predetermined period, upongtheexpiration of vwhich said latch is moved intounlocking position.

6. lIn Vcombination with a vault door locking mechanism, a bolt system,| a latch operatively disposed to engage a member of saidsystem, said latch being normally held in u'l'ilocked` position, an electromagnet disposedA to` actuyate said latch, a combination lockfand means connecting said combination ,lock and said electromagnet whereby said electromagnet,,maybe caused to Amove said latch into locking positionand maintain the same in said position for a predetermined period, upon the expiration of which said latch is moved into unlocking position.

7. A locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system embodying a bolt system, an'

emergency latch, disposed to engage a member of said system, an electromagnet which actuates said latch, a combination lock, trigger means connecting said electromagnet to said combination lock, a night lock latch disposed to engage one of the members of said system, and an electromagnet electrically connected to said combination lock.

8. A locking means for a vault door bolt system embodying an emergency latch, disposed to engage one of the bolts of said system.` an electro-magnet which actuates said latch, a combination lock trigger means connecting said electro-magnet to the combination lock of said vault door, a night lock latch disposed to enga-ge one of the bolts of said system and an electro-magnet electrically connected to said combination lock.

9. In combination with a locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system, `a pivoted latch having an arm, said arm having one side straight and the other side curved whereby said arm mav be caused tomove through a predetermined length of arc.

10. A locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system embodying an emergency latch, disposed to engage one of the bolts of said system. an electromagnet which actuates said latch, trigger means connecting said electromagnet to the combination lock of said vault door, a night lock latch disposed to engage one of the bolts of said system, an electromagnet electrically connected to said combination lock, and means which automatically disengages said night latch when said emergency latch moves into locking position.

11. In combination with a locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system, a combination lock having its discs flattened on one side, a transverse bar contacting With and movably disposed With respectl to said discs, and an electrical conducting plate inl' sulatedly mounted on said bar, said plate being' disposed to make contact With the housingf of said combination lock.

12. In combination with a locking mechanism for a vault door bolt system, a combination lock having its discs flattened on one side, a transverse bar contacting Withand movably disposed with respect to said discs, an electrical conducting plate insulatedly mounted on said bar, said plate being; dis- 'v posed to make contact with the housing of 13. In combination With a locking mechanism, a night latch, an emergency latch, an electro-magnet disposed to actuate said emergency latch into locking position and means Which automatically moves said night latch intov unlocked position When said emergency latch moves into locking'- position.

141. In combination with a locking mechanism, a night latch, an emergency latch disposed beneath said night latch, electromagnets operatively disposed to actuate said latches into locking position and means which automatically moves said night latch into unlocked position When said emergency latch moves into locking position.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of March, A. D. 1920.

EMME'I SMITH PALMER. 

